Tank-valve construction



F. C. D. WILKES.

TANK VALVE CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, I918.

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PatentedNov'. 7, 1922..

TORNEY Patented New. 7, 1%22.

FREDERICK GHAUNCEY DOUGLAS WILKES, 0F WATER TO, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 LUCE CANE EABVESTER CORPORATION, OF N YORK, H. Y., A CORPORATION @F DELAWARE.

TANK-VALVE CONSTBUC'EEON.

Application filed. June 21,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK CHAUNCEY DOUGLAS WILKEs, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing in Watertown, county of J elferson, State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tank-Valve Constructions, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the construction of'tanks and the like and more particularly to means for protecting the contents of tanks against unauthorized removal. In its preferred form the invention includes the provision of closing means for both the inlet and outlet of the tank which may be securely locked so as to revent any unauthorized withdrawal of tlie contents, although in some instances it may be suflicient to lock onl the inlet or outlet as the case may be.

he invention also contemplates certain other improvements in valve construction. The invention is especially intended for the fuel tanks of motor veh cles, motor boats, tractors and the like but it is not limited to such uses and may be applied in connection with any other tank or similar construction.

In the accompanying drawings in which I have shown one preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrative of the principle thereof and the best mode now known to me for performing the same;

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a tank showing the lockin means for the inlet and outlet openings t ereof.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section of the tank shown in Figure 1 Figure 3 is a similar view on an enlarged scale, parts being broken away, and showing the valve means in section, the discharge valve being closed.

Figure 4: is a view similar to Figure 3 with the discharge valve opened.

Figure 5 is a detail view in vertical section illustrating a modified construction of discharge valve.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the numeral 1 designates a tank which may be of any suitable construction, the tank illustrated being cylindrical in form and having an inlet opening at the topthereof and a discharge opening at the bottom diametrically opposite to the inlet opening. A neck member 2 is attached to the top of the tank 1918. Serial No. 241,147.

charge opening 5 passing therethrough and' being formed at its upper end around said openmgwith a valve seat 6 preferably of spherical form. Arranged to screw into the inlet opening 3 is an inlet closure plu 7 which preferably has arms 8 depend ng therefrom carryin a guide sleeve 9. The plug 7 has a centre screw threaded opening 10 in axial alinement with the opening in the guide sleeve 9. The plug 7 is suitably formed so thatit may be screwed into and out of the opening 3; for instance, it may be provided with sockets 11 adapted to be en aged by the studs of a spanner. A disc arge valve 12 is provided having a surface adapted to fit tightly upon the valve seat 6, this surface being preferably spherical, although it will be understood that any other suitable form of engaging surfaces for the valve and valve seat may be employed. The valve 12 is carried at the lower end of a discharge valve rod 13, the valve preferably having a pivotal connection with the end of this rod so as to permit the valve to seat itself firmly. As illustrated the valve 12 is provided with a pair of upwardly extending ears 14; between-which the lower end of the valve rod is received and to which it is pivoted by the pivot 15. The valve rod 13 has a snug rotatable and sliding fit in the guide sleeve 9 through which it passes and at its' upper end the rod is somewhat enlarged in diameter and provided with a screw thread 16 fitting the threaded opening 10 in the inlet plug. The top of the rod is suitably formed for engagement with a wrench or key. For instance, it may be provided with a hexagonal nut head 17 as illustrated.

In orderto lock the tank means are provided for preventing, when desired, the rotation of the discharge valve rod and the removal of the inlet plug. In the construction illustrated the neck member 2 is provided with a pair of upwardly projecting perfo rated lugs 18 arran ed at opposite sides in the inlet opening, a asp 18 being pivoted to one of these-lugs b a strong pin' or rivet 20 and having at t e other enda pair of perforated ears 21, the perforations in which,

so effectually prevents the removal or unloosening of this plug. The. hasp is also suitably formed to prevent the rotation of the discharge valve rod. As illustrated the hasp is provided with an opening 24 having flat sides 25 between which the nut head 17 is received and held against rotation.

With the construction described it will be seen that when the inlet plug is screwed in place and the discharge valve rod rotated so as to cause the discharge-valve to seat, the tank is tightly closed a ainst removal of the contents therefrom. y locking the hasp downin the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 neither the plug nor the discharge valve can be opened. On the other hand, when it is desired to withdraw the contents of the tank through the discharge opening the hasp is unlocked and raised to the position shown in Figure 4 and the discharge valve rod partly unscrewed. When it is desired to -fill the tank a spanner is applied to the plug 7 which is completely unscrewed from the opening in the neck and lifted out together with the discharge valve rod and discharge valve carried thereby.

The-construction described is very simple but very eflfective for the intended purpose. All of the valve mechanism is carried from the .inlet plug so that it may be readily re the inlet plug insures the proper location of the discharge valve rod and guides the valve to its seat. The pivotal connection of the valve to this rod permits the valve to seat firmly, particularly where the valve and its seat are of spherical configuration.

In Figure 5 I have illustrated a modified construction of discharge valve and seat in which the valve rod 13 is formed at its lower end with a ball 30 received in a spherical socket in the valve 12. The spherical valve seat 6 is formed in a discharge plug 31 screwing into a flange member 32 attached to the bottom of the tank. With this construction the valve seat plu as well as the discharge valve may be rea ily removed for the purpose of grinding or the like. The utmost freedom of movement between the discharge a valve and its rod is also provided by the ball and socket connection.

While I have illustrated and descr1bed in detail but one form of my invention I realize that modifications may be made therein and I do'not therefore intend to limit myself specifically to this embodiment. On the other hand, I desire to protect my invention broadly in whatever form its principle may be utilized.

Having thus described my 'invention,I claim, 7

1. In a tank having oppositely disposed openings, the combination of a plug removably fitted in one of said openings, a guide carried by said plug and spaced below the same, a valve rod passing through said guide and axially adjustable in said plug, and a valve carried by said rod for closing the other opening, said rod and valve being removable through the opening in which said plug fits when said plug is removed.

2. In a tank having oppositely disposed openings, the combination of a removable member for closing one of said openings,a valve rod carried by said member and axially adjustable therein, a valve carried by said rod for closing the other opening in said tank, and a hasp adapted to be locked in position across said movable member and adj acent to the sides of the end of said valve rod, .whereby manipulation or removal of said member and valverod is prevented.

3. In tank construction, the combination ofa neck member secured at one side of the tank and having a screw threaded inlet openin therein and means secured to the other slde of the tank having a discharge orifice therethrough and a discharge valve seat thereon, a plug screwed into said screw threaded opening in the neck member, said plug having a screw threaded opening therethrough, a discharge valve rod having a portion screwed through the opening in said plug, said rod carrying the discharge valve at its inner end adapted to seat upon said discharge valve seat, the outer end of said discharge valve rod being formed for enga ment by a tool for rotating the rod, am? a hasp carried by said neck member and having a portion adapted when the hasp is closed to prevent removal of said inlet plug, said hasp alsohaving a portion adapted to coact with the outer end of the valve rod to prevent rotation thereof.

4. In a tank having oppositely disposed openings,the combination of a removal member for closing one of said openings, a valve rod carried by said member and having screw threaded engagement therewith, a valve for closing the other opening carried by said rod, and a hasp mounted on the tank and having a portion adapted when the has is closed to prevent removal of said mem r, said hasp also having a portion adapted to coact with the valve rod to prevent rotation thereof.

5. An inlet and discharge closure unit for tanks comprising an inlet closure member carrying a guide sleeve spaced therefrom, openings in said sleeve and closure member, a valve rod carried in said openings and a valve carried at one end of said rod.

6. An inlet and discharge closure unit for tanks comprising a plug having an opening therethrough, said plug carrying a guide 7 

